Date of Conferral

2018

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Dr. Morris Bidjerano

Abstract

Combatting corruption in Cameroon has become a primary policy focus for the government and the civil society; yet, the success on that front has been modest. The literature on anticorruption efforts in the country is scant. Using Rothstein and Santiso's conceptualization of anticorruption strategies as the guide, the purpose of this case study of government's anticorruption policy and practice was to explore and contextualize the anticorruption strategies in Cameroon to fill the gap in the literature and potentially contribute to solving the problem. Data were collected through interviews with 20 government employees working with the government's main anticorruption agency -- the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), and through documents obtained from government published archives and expert publications. The data were inductively coded and organized in themes, then an integrated content analysis was conducted on the themes. The key finding of the study is that the government's anticorruption strategies faced major challenges due to their poor design, formulation, and implementation. Potential approaches to addressing these challenges were also identified by participants to include leadership/political solutions such as regime change, institutional reforms such as granting NACC institutional autonomy, and conceptual solutions such as reforming NACC into an organization with judicial status. This study will impact positive social change through the recommendations it makes for good governance, which if implemented by the Cameroon government, would improve systems, institutions, and services to the citizens of the country. Another benefit is the improvement in government revenue, better investment budgets, and greater economic activity to alleviate poverty.

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